Ishwari Gorwadkar

Analysis

Verandas coming together forming common frontyards and shared spaces, I read this space as a courtyard

Studying existing house types in the village 

Studying these morphological patterns, I experimented with similar spatial logics. I explored two primary configurations: one where open spaces defined the built form, and another where built forms enclosed open spaces. The former proved more compelling, allowing for winding pathways and moments of discovery. This approach resonated with the village’s organic structure, ensuring the design felt less like an isolated unit and more like a natural extension of the village itself.  

A visit to an old-age home reinforced this intent. The elderly residents there struggled with isolation. Instead of designing a self-contained institution, I envisioned a place integrated with village life—where interactions occurred naturally and where spatial design fostered a sense of belonging. 

The entrance from the main road leads to a set of public facilities, including a healthcare center, a shop, and a kitchen. These spaces ensure accessibility for both residents and villagers, allowing for everyday interactions. The kitchen, doubling as a shop, is accompanied by a kitchen garden, enabling residents to engage in small-scale farming and catering, reminiscent of their past occupations.  

The healthcare center, initially a long structure, is split into two parts to reduce its scale, separated by a veranda that serves as a shaded waiting area. This center caters to both residents and the surrounding community, addressing their medical needs.  

A 2.5-meter grid organizes the layout which comes from the village this grid creates a sense of intimacy making these units feel more like home, with verandas following this while the rooms proportionately change depending on the programme it holds. This grid gradually corrodes shaping pathways that allow you to meander through the site. The morphology of the design translates the essence of a village, where houses define both intimate and expansive pathways, revealing spaces gradually and creating an element of surprise.  

Verandas facing each other with seating encourage elderly residents observe their surroundings, a practice commonly seen in the village. The connecting verandas form semi-covered transitional spaces between houses, allowing for diffused daylight and shaded gathering areas. Using louvered windows in the residences offer the ability to control the amount of light entering, similar to the strategies observed in village homes.  

The materiality of the structure is that they are load bearing walls which support the mangalore tiles roof. With different kinds of fenestrations and individuality to each house so sort of creating homes for each individual. 

The design comprises eight residential units accommodating a total of 20 elderly residents. Some of these units extend to an additional floor, serving as visitor accommodations and storage spaces.  

Each unit also features a backyard, similar to their village life, where many daily activities take place. Here, residents can store personal belongings, engage in small tasks, and create a sense of home beyond the indoor spaces.

This design also holds a library and a caretakers’ room which accommodate 3 people. The common room extends beyond the four walls—flowing seamlessly into a shaded outdoor space due to the presence of trees on-site. Here, under the natural canopy, activities spill over organically, blurring the line between built space and nature. This seamless transition between built space and nature allows activities to flow organically, reinforcing the blurred boundaries between the built space and the surrounding landscape

1:200 Iterations

 1: 200 FINAL MODEL

Context plan 1:200

Plan 1:100

Section 1:100

3D model

FINAL MODEL

Morphology diagram